Cave camping near Conway

On the southeastern edge of the White Mountain National Forest, close to the New Hampshire-Maine border, the town of Conway is surrounded by opportunities for adventure. A popular activity is taking a scenic drive along the Kancamagus Highway, a 34.5-mile route that stretches from Lincoln to Conway, particularly during leaf-peeping season, as is hiking and camping at the National Forest campsites along the way. Nearby Cranmore Mountain Resort offers all-season activities, from adventure park rides and tubing in the summer to skiing and snowboarding in the winter.

North Conway

A 10-minute drive north of the town center, North Conway is well-known for its outlet stores and is home to the Conway Scenic Railroad, which operates historic railway routes aboard vintage trains that depart from a Victorian station—one route takes riders from North Conway through the Crawford Notch mountain pass. 

Echo Lake

Just outside North Conway, Echo Lake is a popular swimming spot encircled by a trail. Other trails lead to the top of the 700-foot Cathedral Ledge, from where views of the Saco River Valley are spectacular.

Bartlett

A 25-minute drive northwest, the town of Bartlett is home to Diana’s Baths, a series of waterfalls lying along Lucy Brook in Bartlett, which is fed from Big Attitash Mountain. Just south of town, Bear Notch Road is one of the best places in the Mount Washington Valley for spotting moose, deer, and other wildlife.

While spring and summer are ideal for enjoying the trails and lake activities on offer, these are the busiest seasons so you may encounter crowds and full parking lots at popular spots such as Diana’s Baths. Fall and winter have their own appeal with  the landscape busting into rich colors in fall and an abundance of snowy activities on offer in winter, from skiing on Cranmore Mountain to snowshoeing through the White Mountain National Forest.